D. W. Griffith only got to make 2 sound features before his directorial career was terminated and they are both on this DVD. Walter Huston, however, is not in both movies. He is only in ABRAHAM LINCOLN playing the title role. Now that that has been cleared up, let’s take a look at each film as this is the first time that both have appeared in restored editions.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN is receiving a new lease on life thanks to the Steven Spielberg movie. In fact the Blu-Ray cover is designed to make Walter Huston look like Daniel Day-Lewis. Huston was the first great interpreter of the 16th President and this is the only film that takes a cradle-to-grave approach to Lincoln’s life. For years this film has appeared in several substandard editions (many of which are still out there) so make sure you get the Kino version. ABRAHAM LINCOLN proves that Griffith COULD handle sound and that he hadn’t lost his directorial touch. Remarkable camerawork and editing plus Huston’s far reaching performance make this a memorable experience. Dated in many ways it still has the power to engage the viewer and impart a sense of history. This version restores footage cut against Griffith’s wishes which are presented with subtitles as the soundtrack for these snippets has been lost.
THE STRUGGLE, which stars Hal Skelley not Walter Huston, brought Griffith’s career to a screeching halt. The story of a foreman in a steel factory and his descent into alcoholism just didn’t resonate with early 1930s audiences at all. That coupled with the low budget location shooting gave the film an antiquated look that critics of the time jumped all over. The premiere was a disaster and the film only played a few theaters nationwide before disappearing without a trace. Griffith never directed again even though he lived another 17 years. Today, especially in this restoration, it’s clear that THE STRUGGLE is far better than its reputation. In fact it looks forward to the much better known 1945 look at alcoholism THE LOST WEEKEND. It’s also a rare opportunity to see actress Zita Johann in something other than the 1932 THE MUMMY.
While neither film is on the level with Griffith’s earlier masterworks (although ABRAHAM LINCOLN comes close), they are important in showing that Griffith was still developing as an artist when the realities of the new Hollywood cut short his career. A special thank you to Kino for making this double feature as well as all of the other GRIFFITH MASTERWORKS available in quality editions. CONSUMER NOTE: The Blu-Ray edition of ABRAHAM LINCOLN does not contain THE STRUGGLE.
The Capsule Critic 